Monthly Archives: June 2017

Gambia: IMF Executive Board Approves US$16.1Million Disbursement Under the Rapid Credit Facility for The Gambia – Freedom Newspaper

Posted: June 28, 2017 at 6:43 am

IMF Executive Board Approves US$16.1Million Disbursement Under the Rapid Credit Facility for The Gambia

June 26, 2017

The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) today approved emergency financial assistance under the Rapid Credit Facility (RCF)[1]in the amount equivalent to SDR11,662,500 (about US$16.1 million) for The Gambia to enable the authorities to meet their urgent balance of payment needs.

In addition, the Board was informed about the IMF Managing Directors approval of a one-year staff-monitored program (SMP)[2]to guide policy implementation.

With the recent political transition, the new government has inherited a dire economic situation and the country is faced with an urgent balance of payments need and a precariously low level of usable international reserves. The Gambia has been hit by a bad agricultural season, the political turmoil following the elections in December 2016 has greatly reduced tourism receipts in early 2017, and higher fuel and commodity prices put further strain on the balance of payments. These shocks have exacerbated an already fragile macroeconomic situation, reflecting past economic mismanagement.

The IMF financial assistance is intended to address urgent balance of payments needs that have arisen on account of the shocks. It will help fill budgetary gaps while the authorities implement economic and structural policies aimed at restoring macroeconomic stability and reducing poverty. The Executive Boards approval of the RCF disbursement will also enable the authorities to engage in further discussions with the donor community regarding assistance to meet their remaining financing needs. The Boards approval enables the immediate disbursement of the full amount of the RCF loan, which is equivalent to 18.75 percent of The Gambias quota in the IMF.

Following the Executive Board discussion, Mr. Mitsuhiro Furusawa, Deputy Managing Director and Acting Chair, issued the following statement:

The Gambia faces an urgent balance of payments need triggered by a weak agricultural season, lower tourism receipts due to the political turmoil early this year, and higher commodity prices. These shocks along with past economic mismanagement have exacerbated an already weak economic situation.

The Gambian authorities are strongly committed to a break with past policies and to restoring macroeconomic stability and debt sustainability. To that end, they intend to implement strong fiscal measures in 2017 and beyond. They have committed to drastically reducing domestic borrowing, including by ending central bank deficit financing, and are taking substantive measures to increase non-tax revenue and reduce expenditures in 2017. The authorities also plan to undertake comprehensive reforms of key state-owned enterprises to secure the planned fiscal adjustment. These efforts are complemented by substantial external support from development partners. However, sustained further efforts beyond 2017 will be needed to secure fiscal sustainability.

The Gambias high public debt exposes it to significant vulnerabilities. To reduce these vulnerabilities, multilateral development banks have committed to provide additional support and assurances of highly concessional support have been received from some of The Gambias major official bilateral creditors. The authorities are also committed to developing a strategy to reduce vulnerabilities stemming from domestic debt. These actions will help make debt sustainable over the medium term, although risks are expected to remain elevated. Over the coming months, it will be important for the authorities to continue to pursue a coordinated approach to secure assurances of support from other official creditors to reduce debt vulnerabilities.

The IMF is supporting the efforts of The Gambia with resources from the Rapid Credit Facility. In addition, determined and strong policy implementation under the staff monitored program will be critical to restoring macroeconomic stability, help catalyze further donor financing and establish a track record as the basis for future program engagement with the IMF.

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Gambia: IMF Executive Board Approves US$16.1Million Disbursement Under the Rapid Credit Facility for The Gambia - Freedom Newspaper

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Independence Day 2017 SeaLand & Port Schedule – American Journal of Transportation

Posted: at 6:40 am

By: AJOT | Jun 27 2017 at 03:36 PM | LinerShipping

A quick glance of the North America terminals and port schedules during Independence Day on Tuesday, July 4th

Additionally, SeaLand offices in the United States will be closed on July 4th in honor of Independence Day.

Port schedules:

PORT CODE PORT NAME Independence Day July 4th

USHOUTM HOUSTON TERMINAL Closed

USHOUBP BAYPORT Closed

USILMCT WILMINGTON CONTAINER TERMINAL Closed

USLSATM LOS ANGELES P400 Closed both Shifts (4th & 5th July)

USP1HPH PORT HUENEME Open

USNFK04 PORTSMOUTH MARINE TERMINAL Closed

USNOL10 Ceres Gulf Terminal Closed

USNOLPO PORTS AMERICA NEW ORLEANS Closed

USNWKSL NEWARK - APM TERMINALS Closed

USNWKTM PORT NEWARK CONTAINER TERMINAL Closed

USYS9HH GLOBAL CONTAINER TERMINAL STATEN ISLAND Closed

USPEVTR FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL Closed

USPHLPT PACKER AVENUE MARINE TERMINAL Closed

USSAVGC GARDEN CITY TERMINAL Closed

Free time:

Containers Within Free time : Days indicated as Closed will not be counted providing free time is in business days

Containers in Demurrage : Will be billed for all applicable days

This also applies to DETENTION

Please note that no late-gates or addbacks will be available for the SeaLand Balboa voyage 1711.

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New Star Trek series will abandon Gene Roddenberry’s cardinal rule – Ars Technica

Posted: at 6:39 am

Enlarge / Sonequa Martin-Green plays protagonist Michael Burnham, first officer of the U.S.S. Shenzhou, on new CBS All Access series Star Trek: Discovery.

Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry had a lot of strict rules for writers on his shows. Some, like the requirement that both female and male officers be called "sir," were thrown out a while ago (Kate Mulgrew, who played Captain Kathryn Janeway, wanted to be called "ma'am"). Now, with forthcoming series Star Trek: Discovery, we're about to see one of Roddenberrys most cherished rules bite the dust.

When Roddenberry first framed his ideas for the Star Trek universe, he wanted to be sure that writers would emphasize the Utopian aspects of future life in the Federation. Some of that Utopianism was hardwired into the show's basic premise, in which money, war, and racial discrimination are things of the distant past. But Roddenberry wasn't satisfied with thathe wanted characters whose behavior was exemplary, too.

So he made a rule, which endured long after his death, that main characters were not allowed to mistreat each other or have conflicts that werent quickly resolved. Writers for the various series also weren't allowed to show characters being malevolent or cruel. Of course, there were exceptions. Aliens or non-crew members could be as awful as the writers wanted, as could protagonists whose minds were being controlled by outside forces. (This helps explain why our heroes are always being possessed or hopping over to the Mirror Universe.)

After decades of complaints about these constraints from producers, Star Trek: Discovery showrunners Aaron Harberts and Gretchen J. Berg have decided to abandon Utopia for something they consider a little more realistic. On this streaming series, debuting on CBS All Access this September, our protagonists won't always be nice. Their behavior won't be worthy of emulation, and their conflicts will get out of control.

"The thing we're taking from Roddenberry is how we solve those conflicts, Harberts told Entertainment Weekly. "So we do have our characters in conflict, we do have them struggling with each other, but it's about how they find a solution and work through their problems."

Harberts and Berg are also chucking the "planet/alien/giant space object of the week" format that's long been a staple of Star Trek storytelling. Instead, there will be a seasonal arc, with character-driven plotlines. You can expect something like The Expanse or Battlestar Galactica, in which multiple plots play out over the entire season, rather than self-contained adventures each week.

There's risk in doing this, because one of Star Trek's main lures has always been its relentless optimism even when things go pretty dark. Plenty of science fiction franchises already deal in gritty realism, and it's possible that audiences won't take to the idea that Star Trek is now one of them. That said, conflict will always be part of human life. What could be more Utopian than telling stories about people overcoming genuine, entrenched conflict rather than avoiding conflict altogether?

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Show: Ina Jang’s Utopia – British Journal of Photography

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Inspired by Asian soft porn, Ina Jang's Utopia features silhouetted female bodies that embody passive, girlish stereotypes

Asian soft-porn images all have something in common the gaze of the performer and how they performin front of the camera, assuming really iconic poses, says Ina Jang, a South Korean artist based in New York. Presumably, they are instructed by someone to behave that way.

Jangs exhibition Utopia, which recently went on show at the Swiss Muse des beaux-arts du Locle, is inspired by such images. Delving into the depiction of women in Korea and Japan, Jang found astriking stereotype in the so-called gravure (or glamour) magazines popular there women who are shown as girlish and submissive, sporting pink cheeks and a school uniform even if they were older than 25.

I remembered seeing gravure magazines essentially watered-down versions of Playboy in every convenience store in Tokyo, says Jang. All the females in them are portrayed as passive and helpless, sometimes playful.

When I started researching the pornographic visuals, it hit me that theres a clear formula in the way women are portrayed in them, she continues.I printed out some of the images, cut out the body figures and photographed them. From there, I kept making images with similar positions.

Jang is a well-established fine art photographer, whose images often focus in on women and use an instantly recognisable, delicate colour palette. For this series she used sickly-sweet acid tones recognisably hers but also a reaction to the magazines, which use soft, femininetones. When I was looking at pornographic images online I imagined the series should be shot in a minimalist way, but I wanted the strong colours, she says.

Peach, from the series Utopia Ina Jang, courtesy the artist

Fuchsia, from the series Utopia Ina Jang, courtesy the artist

Lemonade, from the series Utopia Ina Jang, courtesy the artist

It sounds like a rarified world, but for Jang it also suggests a much darker undercurrent. When she started working on the series a story broke in Korea about a man who had been waiting to commit a random murder in a public toilet in the Gangnam district of Seoul;since a lot of places in Korea have restrooms that are for both genders, it means that this guy had been waiting in the stall for a woman to come in so he could kill her, she explains.

Working on this topictook its toll, so after finishing the exhausting research for Utopia, Jang decided to work on another, more playful and intuitive project on the side eventually creating a new series she named Untitled/ Titled.Iremembered the leftover cut-out papers from my previous shots, than I just started painting colours on chipboards and used cut-outs to created portraits, she says. Or landscape, dependingon how you see it.

And, revealing the work ethic thats helped ensure shes already represented by three galleries, just seven years after graduating from the School of the Visual Arts in New York, Jang is also working on another series, for another solo show scheduled to be shown next May in Tokyo. Its a completely different body of work, she says, titled Mrs Dalloway after the Virginia Woolf novel, and inspired by paintings by Old Masters that are on show in NYCs MoMA and the Centre Pompidou in Paris.

Utopia by Ina Jan is on show at theMuse des beaux-arts du Locle, Switzerland until15 October.www.mbal.ch http://www.inaphotography.com

Untitled left over shape (titled passport photo), from the series Untitled (Titled) Ina Jang, courtesy the artist

Untitled left over shape (titled mountain of dumplings), from the series Untitled (Titled) Ina Jang, courtesy the artist

Untitled left over shape (titled alternative egg rolls), from the series Untitled (Titled) Ina Jang, courtesy the artist

From the series Mrs. Dalloway Ina Jang, courtesy the artist

From the series Mrs. Dalloway Ina Jang, courtesy the artist

From the series Mrs. Dalloway Ina Jang, courtesy the artist

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Fiji hosts Oceania Athletics Championships – Loop PNG

Posted: at 6:39 am

Oceania Athletics executive director Yvonne Mullins indicated this to the healthy growth of athletics in the Oceanic region.

"Six hundred and seventeen athletes are here and this is our largest Oceania championships," Mullins said.

"The sport is alive and well in the Oceania region and the best are here.

"So if the best are here that means we got a far broader participation base out there. We are growing."

On the same note, Oceania Athletics president Geoff Gardner said they like to see their sport (athletics) as a sport that fed other sports.

"We like to see ourselves as a sport that feeds other sports with the skills because athletics is seen as the mother of all sports and because of the strength, endurance, speed and agility," Gardner said.

He said the growth in the number of quality athletes competing in the region was also a positive sign for athletics. Fiji Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee CEO Lorraine Mar said it was not going to be one group that would be making it happen.

"I think it is about us creating the environment that will get the performances," Mar said.

The competition which starts today will be featuring athletes from the following Oceanic countries: American Samoa, Australia, New Zealand, Cook Islands, Fiji, Guam, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati Marshall Islands, New Caledonia, Tonga, Nauru, Niue, Norfolk Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Samoa and Polynesie Francaise.

Photo: Yvonne Mullins Oceania Athletics executive director

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Inexperienced New Zealand team heading to FIBA U17 Oceania … – Stuff.co.nz

Posted: at 6:39 am

Last updated07:20, June 28 2017

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Charlisse Leger-Walker is expected to play a starring role for New Zealand at the FIBA U17 Womens Oceania Championships in Guam.

A relatively young and inexperienced New Zealand under-18 women's basketball team will contest next month'sFIBAunder-17 Oceania championships in Guam.

However, head coachJodyCameron said that the Guam tournament, which runs from July 9-15, was a chance for the players to step upafter the majority of the Junior Tall Ferns hadmoved on to US college scholarships or were past the age of eligibility.

"The current pool of players has worked hard to get to next level. We are really happy with the commitment from them and their families, and every playerwe'venamed thoroughly deserves their spot in this team," Cameronsaid.

New Zealand will compete inpool B alongsideNew Caledonia, home favourites Guam, and Palau. Favourites Australia are in pool A with Tahiti, Samoa and the Marshall Islands.

READ MORE: * Tall Ferns selected * Wildcats demolish Otago * Youngsters' skills amaze

Despite their youth, one player expected to attract plenty of attention is young Waikato playerCharlisse Leger-Walker who is regarded asone of New Zealand's most exciting youth women's prospects. Leger-Walker played for New Zealand at both theFIBA Oceania under-16 and under-18 women's tournaments over the past two years.

Similar to the Tall Ferns and Tall Blacks, New Zealand age-group teams are also subject to new qualification rules thanks to FIBA's new Asia Zone. Previously New Zealand age-groups teams were required to be number one in Oceania to qualify for a FIBA World Cup. Now, teams are required to be within the top two in Oceania, which qualifies them to play in the FIBA Asia age-group championships.

The team will then have to finish in the top four in that tournament to qualify for the FIBA Under-19 World Cup.

Under-18 New Zealand Women's Team:Aimee Book (Canterbury),Lauryn Hippolite (Canterbury),Grace Hunter (Wellington),Charlisse Leger-Walker (Waikato), Leah Mafua(Hutt Valley),Lauryn Mapusua(Basketball Queensland),Tsubasa Nisbet (Canterbury),Olivia O'Neill(Otago), Lily Rangi (Counties Manukau),Keeley Tini (Harbour),Lawrin Tipene (Wellington),Charlotte Whittaker(North Canterbury).

-Stuff

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Oceania Boxing Championships off to a good start | Loop PNG – Loop PNG

Posted: at 6:39 am

The top seed in the weight division produced an assured performance against Samoas Filimaua Hala.

Whateley, who represented Australia at the Rio 2016 Olympics, earned victory by a unanimous decision.

He will now face New Zealands David Kieran Nyika in the gold medal match, with his rival having won against Papua New Guineas Talamoni Clayton Kami yesterday.

Australian success continued with Andrew Hunt progressing in the mens bantamweight division.

He defeated Papua New Guineas Andrew Aisaga.

At the same weight there were victories for Tongas John Barry Slade Moldeni and New Zealands Leroy Clinton Hindley.

They overcame Samoas Uilaomatagi Ropeti Sinapatia and Mel-Lachlan Halstead of Nauru respectively.

Papua New Guineas John Ume upset the host nation in the light-welterweight event.

He ended the challenge of Australias Daniel Heyes.

It is the last of the five Continental Championships that serve as direct qualification routes to the International Boxing Association's World Boxing Championships, due to be held in the German city of Hamburg between August 25 and September 2.

The two finalists in each of the 10 weight categories will secure their places in Hamburg.

Action is continuing today, with the finals due to take place on Thursday (June 29).

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Iran defeats Japan in 2017 ParaVolley Asia Oceania Sitting Volleyball Championships – Press TV

Posted: at 6:39 am

The national Iranian men's sitting volleyball team has notched a resounding win in its opening match at the 2017 ParaVolley Asia Oceania Sitting Volleyball Championships in China, and triumphed over the Japanese squad.

The Iranian squad blanked the East Asian team 3-0 (25-7, 25-16 and 25-11) in its first game of tournament in the southern Chinese city ofHangzhou on Tuesday.

Later in the day, Iran women's national sitting volleyball team sankKazakhstan 3-0 in straight sets (25-17, 25-7 and 25-8) in their second preliminary round match.

Iran men's national sitting volleyball team is scheduled to face China on Wednesday. Iranian physically-challenged sportswomen will take on their Mongolian counterparts as well.

The 2017 ParaVolley Asia Oceania Sitting Volleyball Championships opened in Hangzhou, China, on June 27, and will wrap up on July 3.

The tournament has brought together national mens sitting volleyball teams from China, Iraq, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Japan, Kazakhstan and Sri Lanka.

National mens sitting volleyball teams from China, Iran, Japan, Kazakhstan and Mongolia are in action as well.

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Australian heavyweight advances at Oceania Boxing Championships – Insidethegames.biz (blog)

Posted: at 6:39 am

Australias heavyweight Jason Whateley made light work of his opening fight at the Oceania Boxing Confederation Boxing Championships in Gold Coast.

The top seed in the weight division produced an assured performance against Samoas Filimaua Hala.

Whateley, who represented Australia at the Rio 2016 Olympics, earned victory by a unanimous decision.

He will now face New Zealands David Kieran Nyika in the gold medal match, with his rival having won against Papua New Guineas Talamoni Clayton Kami today.

Australian success continued with Andrew Hunt progressing in the mens bantamweight division.

He defeated Papua New Guineas Andrew Aisaga.

At the same weight there were victories for Tongas John Barry Slade Moldeni and New Zealands Leroy Clinton Hindley.

They overcame Samoas Uilaomatagi Ropeti Sinapatia and Mel-Lachlan Halstead of Nauru respectively.

Papua New Guineas John Ume upset the host nation in the light-welterweight event.

He ended the challenge of Australias Daniel Heyes.

It is the last of the five Continental Championships that serve as direct qualification routes to the International Boxing Association's World Boxing Championships, due to be held in the German city of Hamburg between August 25 and September 2.

The two finalists in each of the 10 weight categories will secure their places in Hamburg.

Action will continue tomorrow, with the finals due to take place on Thursday (June 29).

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Filipino floorball athletes vie in Asia Oceania tourney – Business Mirror

Posted: at 6:39 am

THE Philippine Floorball Association (PFA) is in high spirits for its campaign in the First Asia Oceania Floorball Confederation (AOFC) Tournament in Bangkok set for six days starting on Saturday.

The primary goal is to take home our first victory, mens head coach Peter Eriksson told the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum on Tuesday at the Golden Phoenix Hotel.

PFA President Ralph Ramos that the teams to beat in the AOFC Cup are Singapore and Thailand.

The Singapore Floorball Association is the top seed in Asia since the 1990s, according to Ramos.

The eight participating countries will be divided into two groups. The Philippines is in Group A with China, Iran and Singapore, while Group B is composed of India, Indonesia, South Korea and Thailand.

Ramos said floorball was first introduced to Filipinos in 2010 by a Swedish doing missionary work. The Philippines was recognized by the International Floorball Federation (IFF) on May 8, 2011, as its 53rd member-country.

The PFA maintains clubs at University of the Philippines Diliman, University of Makati, UA&P and De La Salle Zobel. They also organize the Philippine Floorball League (PFL) held every year since 2012.

The Philippiness first international debut was in the inaugural Southeast Asian Floorball Championship in 2014 in Singapore. The mens national team also competed in the 2015 Southeast Asian Games also in Singapore.

The team will depart tomorrow for Bangkok. The Filipinos will face China on July 1.

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